Collet locking device



Filed July 27. 1966 M \KHLVE \s\ w a m%% J C J N HJ fl @Y wW J MHH United St te Pate [9.

ABSTRACT OF THE'DI SCL OSURE" A coil member for locking together'two threadably engaged members, by fixing'said coil member at one end to Y one of said members and with theyother end free to engage, in ratchet fashion, a projectionon the other, member. 1 j

The present invention relates to a locking device for locking two parts togetherand more. particula rly-for r0.- tatably locking two threadably engaged parts'together.

The apparatus of the present invention utilizes a coil member which can be generally fixed at one end to one of a pair of threadably engaged members with the other end free to engage, in ratchet fashion, a projection on the other threaded member. By using a coil member and properly selecting the lead of the coil member a range of locking positions can be obtained between the two members. Also, by providing for a plurality of projections the range of locking positions can be further refined.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel locking structure for holding two members from relative rotation.

It is another object to provide a novel locking structure for locking two threadably engaged members.

It is another object to provide a novel locking structure for looking two threadably engaged members having a range of positional adjustments.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view of a collet assembly for a tool and depicting two forms of construction of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 taken generally along the line 2--2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG- URE 2 taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG- URE 2 taken generally along the line 4, 4 in FIGURE 2.

Looking now to the drawings a portion of a collet assembly is shown and is generally indicated by the numeral 10. The collet assembly 10 is for use with nose assemblies generally of the type shown in the US. patent to George J. Van Hecke et al., No. 3,107,806, for use with pull guns of the type shown in the patent to L. C. Huok, No. 2,132,112; however; the present invention is'not limited to such use only. The assembly 10 includes a collet member 12 which is tubular and in internally threaded at its rearward end 14. An adapter member 16 has its forward end 18 threaded for engagement with theend 14. The rod end 20 of a piston member 22 (only partially shown) has an externally threaded forward end 24 which is threadably engageable with an internally threaded rearward end 26 of the adapter 16. The threaded engagement between adapter 16 and collet 12 is rotatably locked from being unthreaded by a coil lock member 28, while the threaded engagement between adapter 16 and end 20 is rotatably locked from being unthreaded by a coil lock member 30.

The coil lock member 28 is helically wound and has its 3,409,319 Patented Nov. 5, 19.68

rearward end terminating in anaxially extending. tang 32 which is located ina slot or1gro.ove; 34 in an enlarged flange 36 locatedat the rearward end of the threaded end 18. T helock member 28 extends forapproximately 270- and terminates at its other endin a slightly axially, out? Wardly bent .leg. portion 38. The leg portion 38 can .engage one of two stop members40 or 42, which are identically constructed, and extend axially-from -the,rearward end of the collet member 12. The stop member40'has-a right angle stop surface 44 on oneside and, an inclined cam surface 46 on the other side. Asthe adapter member 16 is threaded into the collet member .12 the lock coil member. .28; is held from rotation byvirtue. of the engagement of the tang 32 in groove 34.-The bent leg portion 38 engages the, inclinedsurface- 46 of the stop. member 40 as the, adapter member 16 and collet -member.12 are threaded together and because of the resilience .of the member 28,.thestop member 40 can be rotated past the leg portion 38. However, reverse rotation is prevented since the stop surface 44 will engage the bent leg portion 38. The lock coil member 28 can be compressed until the desired axial, positional relationship between the collet member 12 and adapter member 16 has been attained. With two stop members 40 and 42 the relative positions can be fixed more accurately. For further accuracy additional stops such as members 40 and 42 can be provided while for a greater range in adjustment more coils could be added to the lock coil member 28. A sleeve 48 is located over the outer surfaces of the collet member 12 and the flange 36 to prevent the coil member 28 from expanding radially outwardly as a result of forces tending to uncouple or unthread the collet member 12 and adapter member 16. Thus, the two members 12 and 16 are held together and cannot be unthreaded. To separate the members 12 and 16, the sleeve 48 is removed and the bent leg portion 38 is moved away from the stop member 40, by a tool such as a screwdriver, permitting the members 12 and 16 to be unthreaded from each other.

The coil member 30, in a manner similar to that .of member 28, holds the adapter 16 and rod end 20 together. The member 30, however, differs from member 28 in that it has a radially inwardly extending tang 50 which is located in a radial bore 52 in the rod end 20 whereby the coil member 30 and rod end 20 are held together. A pair of stop members 54 and 56, similar to stop members 40 and 42, extend axially from the rearward end of adapter member 16 and co-operate with the opposite leg portion 56 of coil member 30 to permit the members 16 and 20 to be threaded together and to prevent them from being unthreaded. A flanged bushing 53 is located on the forward portion 24 between the coil member 30 and an enlarged portion of the rod end 20. A sleeve 60 extends at least partially over the coil 30 and serves a purpose similar to that of sleeve 48; sleeve 60 has a slot 55 whereby the leg portion 56 can be engaged by a tool and moved away from the stops 54 and 56 and the members 16 and 20 can be unthreaded.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for holding two threadably engaged members from relative rotation in one direction while permitting relative rotation in an opposite direction comprising: a generally helically extending coil, lock member having axially offset ends, said lock member being of a generally uniform cross-section and having a transversely extending tang portion at one of said ends engaged in an opening in one of the members whereby said lock member is held to said one of' the" member's stop means located on the 7 other member andhaving'astopsurface engageablewith' the other of said ends for preventing relative rotation in the one direction and having a cam-like surface for permitting'relative rotation in the opposit'e'dir'ectio'n', said lock mmber=being"akially r'esilientwhereby said ends canbe resiliently moved axially towards each other as said-cam-likcwurface engagessaid-other of said-ends with relative rotation *in' the opposite direction and with said ends moving axiallyapar't as'said cam-like s'ur face is moved outof engagement with said other of said ends, 'afsleeYe overlyingsaidj'st'op means and said other end of saidlock member andin close proximity'with said lock member whereby radial 'outer movement' of said other end is substantiallyprevented; said sleeve having a slot loeatable in line with'said other of said ends whereby said other of said ends can be mov'eclby a tool-axially away from said stop surface. p The apparatus of claim l with said opening being an axial slot in'the periphery of said one of said members for receiving said tang portion, 'with'said tang portion'eiitending radially axially for reception in said slot.

3. The apparatus of claim with said tang portion "extendingradially and with said opening being a radial bore in said one of said merlnbers for receiving said tang portion said sleeve having a slot locatable in line with said other of said ends whereby said other of said ends can be moved by a tool axially away from said stop surface.

-' v :i- References Cit ed NIIE A E ATEN 1,075,925 10/1913 Maxwell 7 1,174,817 3/1916 Brum-field 151-13 1,660,455!"2/1928 Plumb 287'-125 XR 1,691,599 7 11/1928 Zimmerman 285-e-92 2,355,166 I 8/,1944 Johanson 285--82 'FOREIGN PATENTS "664,962 '1/195'2 Great Britain.

789,697 1/1958 Great Britain 20 CARL-W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

ANDREWIKVUNDRAT, Assistgnt Exizmine r.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,409,319 November 5, 1968 George J. Van Hecke It is certified that error appears in the above identified t and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as paten shown below:

Column 1, line 59, "in" should read is Column 3, line 22, cancel "radially". Column 4, line 4, beginning with "said sleeve having" cancel all to and including "from said stop surface", in line 6, same column 4.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

